Hydro Truck Operator

Job Title: Hydro Truck Operator

Job Description

The Hydro Truck Operator plays a critical role in safely operating hydro/combo or straight vacuum trucks to excavate around underground utilities, remove debris and sludge, and perform sewer, drain, and industrial cleaning across municipal, commercial, and industrial job sites. This hands-on, physically demanding position requires a strong safety focus, mechanical awareness, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a crew in a fast-paced, field-based environment.

Responsibilities

• Operate hydro/combo or straight vacuum trucks on assigned municipal, commercial, and industrial job sites.
• Use high-pressure water and vacuum systems to perform non-destructive excavation around underground utilities such as gas, water, electrical, and communication lines.
• Carry out debris removal, trenching, and digging to support sewer, drain, and industrial cleaning projects.
• Perform thorough daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections on trucks and related equipment, including water systems, vacuum systems, hydraulics, and safety components.
• Monitor equipment performance during operation and coordinate repairs and routine maintenance when needed.
• Take ownership of truck cleanliness and general housekeeping, ensuring equipment and work areas remain organized and safe.
• Prepare job sites before work begins, including setting up equipment, identifying hazards, and confirming safe access and egress.
• Clean job sites upon completion, removing debris and eliminating hazards to leave the area in a safe, orderly condition.
• Handle and dispose of materials, sludge, and waste in compliance with regulations and company procedures.
• Follow all safety protocols and procedures, including OSHA excavation rules, lockout/tagout where applicable, and confined space guidelines.
• Wear and maintain required personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times, including hard hat, gloves, and safety vest.
• Work safely in environments involving high-pressure water systems (approximately 2,000–3,000 PSI), vacuum hazards, sewer waste, sludge, and confined spaces.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with customers, crew members, dispatch, and supervisors regarding job status, site conditions, and any issues that arise.
• Collaborate effectively with crew leads and team leads to execute daily job assignments and adjust to changing site conditions.
• Demonstrate reliability by showing up ready to work, starting on time, and maintaining consistent attendance.
• Proactively identify potential safety risks or equipment issues and report or address them before they become problems.
• Cross-train and assist other departments, such as underground utilities, trenchless infrastructure, municipal wastewater, and industrial cleaning, when workload allows.
• Interpret basic site information, such as utility markings and simple drawings or blueprints, to support safe excavation.
• Maintain compliance with driving and transportation regulations, including adherence to CDL requirements and safe driving practices.

Essential Skills

• Proven ability to operate hydro/combo or straight vacuum trucks using high-pressure water and vacuum systems for excavation and cleaning tasks.
• CDL Class B license required; CDL Class A is acceptable and considered an advantage.
• Valid air brake endorsement with no manual transmission restriction.
• Clean motor vehicle record with no DUI/OUI, reckless driving, hit and run, active suspension, or 10 or more accumulated points within the most recent 3-year period.
• Working knowledge of underground utilities, including the risks associated with gas, water, electrical, and communication lines, and the principles of non-destructive excavation.
• Experience performing daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections on commercial vehicles and related equipment.
• Ability to monitor and maintain water systems, vacuum systems, and hydraulic systems on hydro/combo trucks.
• Strong commitment to safety, including consistent use of PPE and adherence to OSHA excavation and confined space rules.
• Capability to work in physically demanding conditions, including mud, confined spaces, sewer waste, sludge, and exposure to high-pressure water.
• Effective verbal communication skills for interacting with customers, crew members, dispatch, and leadership on job sites.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Willingness and ability to work a day shift schedule with early morning start times and participate in an on-call rotation every 5–6 weeks.
• Comfort working year-round in outdoor environments and all weather conditions.
• Demonstrated reliability, accountability, and ownership of assigned equipment and tasks.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Previous hydrovac, vacuum truck, or related industrial field experience is strongly preferred and can position candidates at the higher end of the pay range.
• Background in sewer jetting, pipe cleaning, septic services, municipal wastewater operations, or industrial cleaning is highly transferable and valued.
• Experience with environmental services or similar field work is beneficial.
• Tanker endorsement is preferred and enhances alignment with the broader service mix.
• Familiarity with hydraulic systems and basic diesel truck maintenance supports success in the role.
• OSHA certification is preferred but not required.
• Ability to interpret basic blueprints or site drawings is a plus.
• Comfort working in confined spaces and around sewer waste, sludge, and other challenging field conditions.
• Strong customer service mindset with the ability to interact professionally on job sites while remaining focused on field work.
• Proactive attitude, including a willingness to cross-train and assist other departments during slower periods.
• Demonstrated ability to operate safely without constant supervision and to communicate proactively with crew and dispatch.
• Adaptability to changing job site conditions and varying project types across municipal, commercial, and industrial environments.

Why Work Here?

You will join a long-established, locally owned contractor with more than four decades of experience and a strong reputation in underground infrastructure and plumbing services. The organization offers a predictable Monday–Friday schedule with a clearly defined on-call rotation, year-round work without seasonal slowdowns, and structured onboarding that includes dedicated safety and orientation training with formal 30-, 60-, and 90-day reviews. You will build a specialized, in-demand skill set in hydrovac operations that commands a premium in the market, while also gaining exposure to multiple service lines that support long-term career growth. From day one, you receive comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, company-paid life insurance, voluntary disability options, and access to a discount marketplace. The culture emphasizes integrity, accountability, and doing the job right, with accessible leadership, fast decision-making, and a tight-knit team environment where those who take initiative, cross-train, and help others build lasting careers.

Work Environment

This is an outdoor, field-based role working across municipal, commercial, and industrial job sites throughout Evansville and Southern Indiana in all seasons and weather conditions. You will operate hydro/combo and vacuum trucks using high-pressure water and vacuum systems in physically demanding environments that can include mud, confined spaces, sewer waste, sludge, and exposure to extreme temperatures. Work is performed both independently and as part of a crew, depending on the daily job schedule, with regular coordination alongside crew leads and team leads. The position follows a day shift schedule with typical start times between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, and includes an on-call rotation every 5–6 weeks with a full-year on-call schedule provided in advance. There is no overnight travel required for this role. Personal protective equipment, including hard hat, gloves, and safety vest, is required at all times, and functional field attire must meet uniform standards as outlined in the company handbook. The culture is tight-knit and accountability-driven, with an emphasis on integrity, ownership of equipment, and willingness to jump in and help where needed, supported by accessible leadership and quick decision-making.

This is a Permanent position based out of Evansville, IN.

The pay range for this position is $37440.00 - $68640.00/yr.

Medical: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO — $30 PCP / $50 specialist copay. Single $108.68 bi-weekly / $54.34 weekly Dental: Paramount Dental PPO — preventive covered 100%. Single $9.55 bi-weekly / $4.78 weekly Vision: VSP Signature — exams and lenses annually at $10 copay, frames every 24 months up to $130. Single $4.82 bi-weekly / $2.41 weekly Life & AD&D: $50,000 company-paid — includes conversion, portability, and waiver of premium Voluntary Life: Employee up to $500,000 | Spouse up to $100,000 | Dependent up to $10,000 Voluntary AD&D: Same amounts as voluntary life Short-Term Disability: 60% of earnings up to $1,000/week — up to 13 weeks Long-Term Disability: 60% up to $5,000/month — begins after 90-day elimination period BenefitHub: Discount marketplace — 300,000+ vendors including Target, Amazon, Walmart, Costco, Disney, American Airlines All benefits effective from day one of employment

This is a fully onsite position in Evansville,IN.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 10, 2026.

About Aerotek

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies’ construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.